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ALVAH FOOTE, OF NORTH BLANDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, IRA RUSSELL, A. B. R. SPRAGUE, AND HENRY PHELPS.

SPRING-BOTTOM FOR BEDSTEADS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,209, dated June 24, 1856.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVAH Foorn, of North Blandford, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Bedsteads or the Spring Foundation or Support of a Bedstead; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1, represents a top view of a bedstead having my invention applied to it. Fig 2, is a vertical and longitudinal section of it. Fig. 3, is a transverse section. Fig. 4L, is hereinafter referred to.

In these drawings, A, represents the frame of the bedstead, the same being composed of four parts a, a, a, a, four connecting rails, b, b, b, 7J, and head and foot boards c, c, arranged and applied together in theusual way.

Between the head and foot rails of the frame are two bars B, B, each of which is arranged near to one of said rails and is supported in position by means of two screws, C, C, which pass through the rail and screw into the bar, so that when they are turned forward, the bar may be drawn toward the rail. Connected with the said two bars B, B, are two suspension flexible inet-allie bands D, D, which are respectively arranged parallel and near to the longitudinal side rail as seen in the drawings. Directly over the two bands D, D, are two other covering or contractile bands or springs, E, E, which like t-he bands, D, D, extend from and between and are held at their ends by the bars, B, B. A series of helical metallic springs, F, F, F, is arranged on each of the suspension bands D, D, and receive on their upper ends one of the covering bands, E, E. Resting on the covering bands and extending transversely from one to the other is a set of slats or cross bars Gr, G, the whole being arranged as seen in Each flexible band, D, and

spring or band, E, which is disposed directly over it may form one and the same t cember A. D. 1855.

strip of metal united together at its two ends and looped around the bars B, B, as seen in Fig. 4, which is a longitudinal section of the band, and a cross section of the bars B, B, to which it is applied.

The mattress or bed is to be placed upon the slats, G, G, they with the flexible springs and bands serving as an elasticl foundation or support thereto.

The peculiar arrangement of the metallic flexible bands and the helical springs connected with them, and their application to the bedstead frame by cross bars and screws or devices of like character enable me to produce a spring bed foundation or spring bedstead at very little expense and obtain one not only highly efficient in operation, but which in case of sagging can readily be restored to its normal position by setting up the straining screws, they serving not only to effect such a result, but to regulate the spring of the bed-or increase or decrease the elasticity as occasion may require.

I am fully aware that a combination consisting of a suspension spring, a thrust spring and a curved arch spring placed between them, while the two former springs are arranged so that one shall be directly over the other, is not new, and that the same is applied to a bedstead that was patented by Ira Russell on the 16th day of September A. D. 1851. Therefore I do not claim such but only my improvement thereon whereby the same, when so applied can be set up, or rendered more or less flexible, my invention, and what I claim consisting in combining with the bedstead and its systems of bands D, D, E E, and springs F, F, the extension devices or bars B, B, and screws, C, C, whereby advantages as above stated are attained.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this twenty-sixth day of De- ALVAH FOOTE. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN P. KYLE,

CLARIssA Gis. 

